Hello! First just wanted to say thanks for hosting such a helpful site!

Im a 23 year alt old rock guitarist from the Western New york region.

About 8 years ago or so, I found a very cool, very unique guitar at my favorite local shop, Buzzos music, and loved it right away. It was me, it was distinct, it was perfect. I went there constantly to play with it and fiddle with the pullout knobs id never seen before. Later, I got it for my birthday (or christmas?), and it was the first guitar I could really call my own up till then I always borrowed my brother's Red Squier Strat, so this was definitely a big step up! I practiced with it all the time and played with it in middle school bands. I started to notice later, once I started using it more as a spare for my new telecaster, that I never saw another one around. Neither had any my friends. Curious...

so I did 2 minutes of research... and basically found out Electra was a cheap knock off company :( my image of my first guitar faltered, and it began sitting in the case more and more. Later, in college I played it alot, but its always been my B guitar, even though it plays well and sounds awesome and incredibly unique..

then a friend started a small guitar maintenance company and did a set up for me, and happened to do a lot better research for wiring diagrams and such showed me everything he found out and it turns out my electra westone pheonix is a pretty hot guitar, not junk at all!!

I am not interested in selling, I just want to learn more!It is a candy red H-s-h with three way selector and pullout knobs. From what I can tell, it is an x185. How manyof these guitars were made? How do I tell for sure which model it is? What kind of pickups are these? How do these guitars compare to more expensive but common guitars (gibson, ibanez..)?

Someone who knows much more than I will be along shortly, but the short answer is that you've got a very good guitar there with very good humbuckers - MMK 45s, I'm guessing, possibly made by Maxon of Japan - and a trick switching setup that has not been surpassed to this day for ease of use and functionality designed by a very nice chap called Tom Presley, who from time to time has graced this forum with his thoughts. Just how cool is that?!

I own two Westone Spectrum models - GT and LX - and one Electra XV1 with the same set up - H/S/H, 1V,2T - and they are just spectacular performers, capable of evoking any other guitar noise you require out of it - Fender, Gibson, Rick et al- and then throw a few more of it's own into the mix.

They were designed in an era after the Japanese had copied everyone elses design and were starting to step out on their own, design-wise, so the Phoenix/Spectrum was a little conservative but Matsumoku made up for that by throwing the XV1, Futura, Dynasty and Dimension 4 into the mix, not forgetting the APII Urchin, Randy Rhoads Vee, Vantage Invader and the Westone Raider and Monark which are all rather out-there pieces!!

_________________Every guitarist I would cross paths with would tell me that I should have a flashy guitar, whatever the latest fashion model was, and I used to say, 'Why? Mine works, doesn't it? It's a piece of wood and six strings, and it works.'

Welcome to the Forums. You will find that the tonal variations on these are spectacular and seem never ending. If memory serves me correct there are 18 different combinations available. I also have the redburst model and I really love it. The phoenix models have super nice necks and were as Corsair stated one of the original model styles offered. Somewhat similar but not the same as the Fender models. I prefer the phoenix over the strat as it offers much more versatility on playing styles and tone. Welcome and enjoy.

_________________Always give thanks for everyday, It may be your last so Rock On Semper Fi!!

Thanks alot! the westone page serial identification is helpful, will have to check it out when I get home! (knew I should have snapped a couple shots with my phone last night while I was thinking of it.)

I feel bad that I let a false impression dictate my enjoyment of this awesome guitar, but I did always know it was special, even if it was just to me as a sentimental thing haha

The only things I DONT like:-the previous owner broke the tremolo, so the arm wont stay in it. Not sure how to fix this, and it'd be really great to do. Im not much of a trem player, but I like the way Issac Brock uses it and it'd be nice to have the option on this guitar

-I dont like where the top strap button is located, I would rather move it to the back of the guitar...would this lower the value or whatever? I mean Im not selling it, but I wouldnt want to "ruin" my guitar either...

-when I got it a local technician recomended I replace the saddles with graphite ones because the originals were snapping strings like CRAZY. The new ones have been great but in my foolishness didnt ask to keep the originals for posteritys sake :(

-not really an issue, but there is a slight blem just north of the 3 way selector. Cant even see it unless you are up close, but is there any easy way to fix/patch that up without ruining the integrity of the guitar?

-one of the coverplate for the pots in the back is not original, someone just did a rough cut of thick plexiglass and put it in there. I liked it because you could see right into the guitar (cool for a middleschooler who has no knowledge of guitar innards!) but I recently colored it with some cool designs via sharpy

When I get a chance I will upload some pictures so you guys can check it out! Thanks again for listening and for all the information

Don't worry so much about effecting value, these are meant to be played. That said you may be able to retrofit a neck plate with an integrated strap button. Some players find that a wider strap helps the guitar sit right without changing the button location.

If you have to look that close to find a blem on a guitar of that age you are in luck. That said, once again post a pic and we may be able to help.

I like clear control covers but if you want you can alway cut a new one from apiece of plastic using the ond one as a template.

Don't worry so much about effecting value, these are meant to be played. That said you may be able to retrofit a neck plate with an integrated strap button. Some players find that a wider strap helps the guitar sit right without changing the button location.

If you have to look that close to find a blem on a guitar of that age you are in luck. That said, once again post a pic and we may be able to help.

I like clear control covers but if you want you can alway cut a new one from apiece of plastic using the ond one as a template.

Yes, definitely planning on getting pictures up asap I posted my story while falling asleep on my droid last night, forgot to snag some shots this morning.

Im not too worried about changing parts out as long as I keep the old ones (past mistake ) and it doesnt affect the integrity or style of the guitar, so an integrated strap button plate is an awesome idea. My friend was thinking we could just reinstall in the back, but Im not sure how many holes I wanna go drilling into it and filling..

As far as the back plate, this is exactly what I was thinking, and why I wasnt too concerned about going over the clear one it had with sharpie

Not sure how I can show whats up with the tremolo, will see what i can figure out. Again, thank you for the help the guitar means alot to me, like I said, its the only Electra Ive seen in my area

As far as figuring out exactly which model you have, here are a couple of hints that will help. Being a red H-S-H Phoenix it can only be an x185, x189 or x199. If it is a set neck (not a bolt on neck in the back) then it is the x199. To tell the difference between the x185 and x189 the easiest way is to look at the bridge. if it is a 2 post tremelo bridge it is the x189. If it is the six screw tekglide bridge it is the x185. Look at the examples in the index of models in the upper LH corner of this page (and also check the index on the old Electra page - go to it from the index of models page). As far as how many were produced, we do not know a number, but there are many more x185's than either of the other 2 models. Welcome to the forums!

_________________"This is the way that pop ends, Not with a BANG but with a box set whose fourth disc you never get around to playing” - Simon Reynolds

As far as figuring out exactly which model you have, here are a couple of hints that will help. Being a red H-S-H Phoenix it can only be an x185, x189 or x199. If it is a set neck (not a bolt on neck in the back) then it is the x199. To tell the difference between the x185 and x189 the easiest way is to look at the bridge. if it is a 2 post tremelo bridge it is the x189. If it is the six screw tekglide bridge it is the x185. Look at the examples in the index of models in the upper LH corner of this page (and also check the index on the old Electra page - go to it from the index of models page). As far as how many were produced, we do not know a number, but there are many more x185's than either of the other 2 models. Welcome to the forums!

So its definitely the x185 in the lipstick (?) solid red. The bridge is the six screw one, so that settles it up yea I had narrowed it down to a few, kinda figured it was the x185 but wasnt positive. Cant wait to get home and check out what year it is off the serial number!

EDIT: I believe the problem with the trem is that its totally stripped where the bar goes in, but Ill see what I can tell without taking it totally apart. And then if I do need to take it all apart we will cross that 'bridge' when we get there haha

Oh dear.... a stripped out wang bar hole isn't going to be much fun as these are a cast, one piece bridge, i.e. you cannot change out the sustain block where the wang bar lives!

I'm quite sure we can work a fix if needed; perhaps drill out the hole and fit a FR bar and collar??

_________________Every guitarist I would cross paths with would tell me that I should have a flashy guitar, whatever the latest fashion model was, and I used to say, 'Why? Mine works, doesn't it? It's a piece of wood and six strings, and it works.'

By looking at your serial number we can tell that it was the 1555th one produced in February 1984. We can also know that it is from 1984 by the labeling on the headstock. That was the only year that they were badged as Electra/Westone. In 1985 they went to just Westone.

_________________"This is the way that pop ends, Not with a BANG but with a box set whose fourth disc you never get around to playing” - Simon Reynolds

Yea I read more of the history on this model and realized, O duh, there is only one year this COULD be, otherwise it'd be just an electra or just a Westone lol

after talking to my friend in the maintenance side of things, he is thinking the easiest way is to just get a new bridge piece. keep the current saddles, but just get like a strat trem in black and use that...

That should work, but what do you guys think about it? is it worth it to track down an original bridge piece for it? Is there any huge differences Im not getting is basically my question.

EDIT: also, if its more appropriate I can move this conversation to the repair subforum..no biggy:)

Good looking guitar, welcome aboard. See if you can catch Dr. Dave Lizzard (hope thats right) around here or on the bay. He sometimes has what you need for these guitars.Another member, Electra Man has some tips on how to bring the shine back to the finish.

Dont know if anyone told you yet, Electra Guitars has been reborn and making guitars again.